I noticed his voice in the most recent episode, also, but I've run into that in other animated shows. Where a VA is having a rough week or whatever and for an episode, their voice is off. There's an episode of Venture Bros where Patrick Warburton sounds just so wrong. But next episode, back to normal.
I'm willing to give it a little and see if it was just a bad day, or if it persists.
I started noticing most (if not all) of Shearer’s characters voices seeming a bit strained and not like they used to be since last year’s season (and since then I’ve noticed it rewatching even a couple of years back). I don’t think this is a case of a bad day, just a guy who’s aging and his voice isn’t what it used to be.
That said, I’ve been seeing people saying that this (along with Julie Kavner’s voice for Marge) are so bad now that they can’t even watch the show, which I think is ridiculous.
I’m one of the few who was a fan since the show began (jeez I’m getting old too) who still enjoys the new seasons, particularly the last 3 or 4 seasons (which have been really great, tho obviously very different from the golden age). It really doesn’t bother me that the voices are a little different, and I’d much rather have the original voice actors doing these characters even if they sound a bit different than bringing in someone new.
I used to love Dr. Hibbert but the new voice isn’t working for me at all, and he no longer feels like the same character. Carl still works, though it can be jarring to hear his new voice at times. Shearer may not be able to sound exactly like he used to, but he still reacts the same way and the characters are still intact. But it is strange to hear.
Edit: Venture Bros was so good, I’ve been meaning to do a full rewatch!
That is fair! I am also old, and have been watching since the start and still happily watching, and my hearing is not what it used to be! I've noticed Marge's shift in voice, but it doesn't bother me too much unless I watch an old episode right before watching a new one. Then it really stands out. Mr. Burns didn't really stand out to me until the most recent episode.
Agreed on Hibbert, I haven't adjusted to his new sound.
But also yeah, the original/classic cast guys have been doing voices on this show for ages. It's got to take a toll after all these years.
Marge never had a very pleasant voice anyway, but these days it's so bad that yes, I can't watch. Ow, my freakin' ears. It just sounds like she's dying right in front of us.
I haven't really watched Family Guy in a couple of seasons, but I am not surprised. That man does so many voices for so many different things, and has been for decades.
The voices gradually changed so people who have been watching all these years didnt notice, people who started watching in the later seasons didnt notice, and people like me who stopped watching at season 12 dont care.
They threatened to replace the voice cast on Futurama for budgetary reasons, and the response from the fans was a PR disaster. That alone would probably scare off the producers from contemplating such a thing on The Simpsons for as long as the actors are willing to stay.
Not even the cast, just John DiMaggio, who voices Bender and a couple of the bigger side characters, but not to the level that Harry Shearer does it IMO. I think if they just got rid of him while he was still willing to work it wouldn’t go over well
It was a pay dispute, all the other cast signed on immediately but he held off because he felt that Hulu wasn’t paying their voice actors well enough. It was a huge thing for awhile but I think in the end he folded and joined on at their rates which is too bad
Compared to the simpsons I could see why he'd have tried to hold out, I really do, buuuuuuut..... if they're taking home even $50,000 per episode, well, I'd be down. However, if they have good agents who can negotiate getting merch, syndication, or game royalties then they would be set for life.
IIRC during one of the many revivals, word got out that they were going to replace the full cast. Then they got everybody but John before working it fully out. But there’s been a lot of revivals so it’s hard to remember the details 😆
I think this was for the Comedy Central reboot, not the Hulu one which had a different dispute
yeah, agree, screw them.
I'm sure you could get anyone to right and animate for peanuts too.
but why stop there? it's the least of the issues. scrap the whole thing.
Because of the backlash and whilst they got away with replacing Lenny and Carl with principal Brian Lewis from American Dad, Marge, Bort, Stupid Sexy Flanders, Homer, Lisa aren't easy to replace.
Marge needs to be written out of the show as her voice is disintegrating and can't even yell. Guuuuun really sounded strained. She sounds older then her mother.
Homer just sounds older and Bort sorta sounds the same.
I blame Duffman for it.
They aren't going to get rid of one of the main voice actors. The others will refuse to continue.
For what its worth, he’s still quite a bit younger than Mr Burns
Mr Burns, shown here in this 19th century woodcut terrorizing local children …
And his mater. Oh Taft, you old dog.
It's Kurns, stupid!
I noticed his voice in the most recent episode, also, but I've run into that in other animated shows. Where a VA is having a rough week or whatever and for an episode, their voice is off. There's an episode of Venture Bros where Patrick Warburton sounds just so wrong. But next episode, back to normal. I'm willing to give it a little and see if it was just a bad day, or if it persists.
I started noticing most (if not all) of Shearer’s characters voices seeming a bit strained and not like they used to be since last year’s season (and since then I’ve noticed it rewatching even a couple of years back). I don’t think this is a case of a bad day, just a guy who’s aging and his voice isn’t what it used to be. That said, I’ve been seeing people saying that this (along with Julie Kavner’s voice for Marge) are so bad now that they can’t even watch the show, which I think is ridiculous. I’m one of the few who was a fan since the show began (jeez I’m getting old too) who still enjoys the new seasons, particularly the last 3 or 4 seasons (which have been really great, tho obviously very different from the golden age). It really doesn’t bother me that the voices are a little different, and I’d much rather have the original voice actors doing these characters even if they sound a bit different than bringing in someone new. I used to love Dr. Hibbert but the new voice isn’t working for me at all, and he no longer feels like the same character. Carl still works, though it can be jarring to hear his new voice at times. Shearer may not be able to sound exactly like he used to, but he still reacts the same way and the characters are still intact. But it is strange to hear. Edit: Venture Bros was so good, I’ve been meaning to do a full rewatch!
That is fair! I am also old, and have been watching since the start and still happily watching, and my hearing is not what it used to be! I've noticed Marge's shift in voice, but it doesn't bother me too much unless I watch an old episode right before watching a new one. Then it really stands out. Mr. Burns didn't really stand out to me until the most recent episode. Agreed on Hibbert, I haven't adjusted to his new sound. But also yeah, the original/classic cast guys have been doing voices on this show for ages. It's got to take a toll after all these years.
Marge never had a very pleasant voice anyway, but these days it's so bad that yes, I can't watch. Ow, my freakin' ears. It just sounds like she's dying right in front of us.
The guy doing Carl is trying to match the old voice (or succeeding better than the Hibbert replacement).
Family Guy has seen more focus on other characters because Seth's starting to struggle to do the voices for every episode.
I haven't really watched Family Guy in a couple of seasons, but I am not surprised. That man does so many voices for so many different things, and has been for decades.
They even made a joke about it where all of Seth's characters are silent and meg asking if Seth got the week off. Giggity.
The voices gradually changed so people who have been watching all these years didnt notice, people who started watching in the later seasons didnt notice, and people like me who stopped watching at season 12 dont care.
They threatened to replace the voice cast on Futurama for budgetary reasons, and the response from the fans was a PR disaster. That alone would probably scare off the producers from contemplating such a thing on The Simpsons for as long as the actors are willing to stay.
Not even the cast, just John DiMaggio, who voices Bender and a couple of the bigger side characters, but not to the level that Harry Shearer does it IMO. I think if they just got rid of him while he was still willing to work it wouldn’t go over well
What did John do to get threatened with replacement?
It was a pay dispute, all the other cast signed on immediately but he held off because he felt that Hulu wasn’t paying their voice actors well enough. It was a huge thing for awhile but I think in the end he folded and joined on at their rates which is too bad
Compared to the simpsons I could see why he'd have tried to hold out, I really do, buuuuuuut..... if they're taking home even $50,000 per episode, well, I'd be down. However, if they have good agents who can negotiate getting merch, syndication, or game royalties then they would be set for life.
IIRC during one of the many revivals, word got out that they were going to replace the full cast. Then they got everybody but John before working it fully out. But there’s been a lot of revivals so it’s hard to remember the details 😆 I think this was for the Comedy Central reboot, not the Hulu one which had a different dispute
Talent
Replace a loyal employee of 40 years just because they sound and are old. I think that's called ageism.
lol this is the least of the problems. but yeah why not screw over the voice actors.
They get paid extremely well and have been there for nearly forty years, they’ll be fine
yeah, agree, screw them. I'm sure you could get anyone to right and animate for peanuts too. but why stop there? it's the least of the issues. scrap the whole thing.
The show just might have reached the end! It hasn’t been clever in decades. But
Because of the backlash and whilst they got away with replacing Lenny and Carl with principal Brian Lewis from American Dad, Marge, Bort, Stupid Sexy Flanders, Homer, Lisa aren't easy to replace. Marge needs to be written out of the show as her voice is disintegrating and can't even yell. Guuuuun really sounded strained. She sounds older then her mother. Homer just sounds older and Bort sorta sounds the same. I blame Duffman for it.